Rumors for September, 2010
Rich Renteria a candidate for Florida Marlins manager position
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Current first base coach of the San Diego Padres, Rich Renteria, is on the Florida Marlins’ radar to possibly manage the club in 2011, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.
The Marlins are familiar with the 49-year-old Renteria since he managed four season in the Marlins’ Minor League system starting in 1998. He has also played as a second baseman for the Marlins in 1993-1994.
The Marlins will address the manager situation after the season. Candidates for the position include Tony Pena, interim manager Edwin Rodriguez, Larry Bowa and Wally Backman – the latter two have not been confirmed. Frisaro says Joe Torre is not regarded as a candidate.
Cleveland Indians claim OF Chad Huffman off waivers
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MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch says that the Cleveland Indians have claim OF Chad Huffman off waivers from the New York Yankees and optioned him to Triple-A.
Huffman, 25, hit .167/.286/.167 in 9 games for the Yankees in his only season in the Major Leagues. He was designated for assignment by the Yankees on September 15.
Joe Torre stepping down as Dodgers manager
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According to Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown, Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre will be stepping down and hitting coach Don Mattingly will be the team’s next manager.
“It has been an incredible honor to wear the Dodger uniform, and I will always carry with me some very special memories from the past three seasons,” Torre said in a release. “This was not a decision I took lightly, but I believe it’s the right one for myself and my family and I’m truly thrilled that Donnie will be the one leading the Dodgers. It’s time that the Dodgers had a new voice, and I have the utmost confidence in him. I know he’s ready for the challenge.”
“Over the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Don closely and have gotten to know him both personally and professionally, and I’m convinced that he’s the right person to lead the Dodgers,” GM Ned Colletti said in a release. “His work ethic is unparalleled, his baseball knowledge is vast and his leadership skills have been established during more than three decades in professional baseball.
A press conference will be held at 2pm PST to announce Torre’s decision. It is not known at this time if Torre will retire or if he’ll pursue other opportunities next season.
Dodgers’ Triple-A manager, Tim Wallach, was believed to be another candidate to replace Torre. In three years with the Dodgers, he is 251-220 and he led the team to playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009. This will be Torre’s first year since 1995 that he has not made the playoffs.
Information from MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick was used in this article.
Former NL MVP Kevin Mitchell to stand trial in assault case
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Former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell has been ordered to stand trial after being accused of assaulting a man at a golf club at Bonita Golf Club in Southern California, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Greg Moran.
Mitchell faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted. He is charged with battery causing serious bodily injury and assault with intent to cause great bodily injury, but is free on $25,000 bail. His trial is set for November 3, 2010.
Mitchell, 48, won the NL MVP in 1989 with the San Francisco Giants, and was on the 1986 New York Mets team that won the World Series. He’s played for nine teams in his 13 year career including the San Diego Padres Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics.
Luis Castillo does not believe he will return to Mets in 2011
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New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo does not believe that he will return to the team in 2011 despite being owed $6 million for 2011, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Castillo said he has spoken to the front office about his situation, and he has a gut feeling that the team will unload him in the off-season.
Last month, Castillo expressed his frustration regarding his lack of playing time.
“I can’t be here anymore,” the second baseman said. “I know I’m not going to be here next year.”
The Mets have been giving more playing time to rookie Ruben Tejada at second base..
Castillo does not care where he ends up, as long as he gets an opportunity to play.
“Maybe 20 more days here and I’ll be prepared to work out for next season,” Castillo said. “I want to see if I can get a chance to play next year because I’m going to be a free agent after that and I want to have a good year and put up good numbers.”
Joe Torre makes decision about managerial future – NOT saying yet
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre said he has made his decision regarding his managerial future, but he is not ready to announce it just yet, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
“I still have something I need to do first,” Torre said.
Torre has told his wife about his plans and he has spoken with General Manager Ned Colletti.
Yesterday, people close to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman said they would be surprised to see Torre stay in Los Angeles. It’s believed that the McCourt family divorce and the restriction of the team’s financials could sway Torre from returning to the team. Should Torre leave, Triple-A manager Tim Wallach is believed to be the leading candidate to succeed him.
St. Louis Cardinals will not trade Colby Rasmus
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Despite St. Louis Cardinals Colby Rasmus‘ trade request over the summer, general manager, John Mozeliak told fans that the team has no interest in trading their center fielder, according to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach.
“A lot of times players, out of frustration or for whatever reason, may go into a meeting and come out saying some things they may regret,” Mozeliak said. “But a lot of times, you have to understand, these things never get out there. In this particular case, it’s been festering for a while. But I can assure you, Colby’s not going to be traded. I can also assure you that some of the things he’s dealing with are typical growing pains that young players go through. When I look at the talent he brings to the table, and when I think about how I could replace that, I realize that would be a very difficult task ahead.”
Mozeliak also added that he expects the team’s payroll to go up in the next three years and he hopes to have some resolution regarding manager Tony La Russa’s status early in the winter.
The GM did not address any specific upgrades, other than to say that the team needs to improve their offense. He did refer to catcher, first base, left field and center field as “locked” positions, an unsurprising statement considering that Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Rasmus figure in the team’s plans for next year.
Peter O’Malley: Current Dodgers ownership has ‘lost all credibility’
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Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin says former Dodgers’ owner, Peter O’Malley, called upon Frank McCourt to sell the franchise. O’Malley said “the current Dodger ownership has lost all credibility throughout the city.”
“In my judgment,” O’Malley said, “it would be best for the franchise and the city if there was new ownership.”
O’Malley is not interested in returning to ownership, but he would be willing to smooth the transition for a potential new owner.
Frank McCourt responded to O’Malley’s statement through his spokesperson:
“Frank has made it abundantly clear he is the long-term owner of the Dodgers,” spokespereson Steve Sugerman said, “and he looks forward to the day when his four boys own and operate the team.”
Frank and Jamie McCourt are going through a divorce where Frank is contending that the team is his sole property as opposed to community property. O’Malley sold the team to FOX for $311 million in 1998 and FOX sold the team to McCourt for $430 million in 2004.
Jayson Stark on Manny Ramirez, Lance Berkman, Colorado Rockies, Mike Napoli
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Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
Chicago White Sox Manny Ramirez has zero extra-base hits and zero RBIs, and according to one official, “This, to me, is a pretty good indication of what he’s got left.” Ramirez will be a free agent after the season, and Stark says if he prices him low enough this winter, he can probably find work.
Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik is expected to be the GM, but he’s described as being “on a short leash.”
Lance Berkman is struggling overall with the New York Yankees. It’s unlikely that he’ll return to the state of Texas. He told the Astros the he would like to go to the Yankees, Boston Red Sox or Tampa Bay Rays before the trading deadline, so he could surface with those teams next year.
The Rockies have free agents Jorge de la Rosa and Jeff Francis headed to free agency after the season, and the team would like to bring them both back, but it will tough for the team to do so.
There are “vibes” that the Los Angeles Angels will put Mike Napoli on the market this winter.
Josh Byrnes meets with Cleveland Indians – deciding on next move
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Former Arizona Diamondbacks GM, Josh Byrnes, met with the Cleveland Indians this week. Current Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro will be stepping down at the end of the season with GM Chris Antonetti taking his place. FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says that Byrnes is “early in the process” of deciding his next move, but he could serve Antonetti in some capacity.
“The main reason he came in was the personal relationship that Chris and I have with him,” Shapiro said. “I have as much respect for Josh as a baseball executive and as a person as anybody in the game.
“It was a great opportunity to discuss the game globally, our team and his future – all three things. He clearly would make anybody better, including us.”
Byrnes is expected to be considered for the New York Mets’ GM opening, but Rosenthal says it is not clear whether he wants such a position. He is in the position to be choosy since his contract with the Diamondbacks runs through 2015.
